Statesmen Ranked in NAIA’s Top 20

William Penn University Athletics

by Wade Steinlage

Oskaloosa–The William Penn men’s and women’s bowling teams are both rated high nationally as the NAIA released its first top-20 poll Friday.

The men are ninth with 1,939 points, while the women are 14th with 1,681 points. The ratings come from collegebowling.com’s ranking system. Overall among the entire nation (all divisions), the men are 26th and the women are 27th.

Three other Heart of America Athletic Conference programs join the Statesmen. On the men’s side, Grand View is third, Mount Mercy is 15th, and Baker is 17th, while on the women’s side, Mount Mercy is ninth, Grand View is 12th, and Baker is 15th.

The NAIA’s top five men’s squads are Indiana Tech, SCAD-Savannah (Ga.), Grand View, Midland (Neb.), and Lawrence Tech (Mich.).

The nation’s best five women’s crews are Pikeville (Ky.), Martin Methodist (Tenn.), Midland, Cumberlands (Ky.), and Indiana Tech.

The ratings will determine which teams qualify for the 12-team NAIA Invitational next March. While six qualifications will be earned by conference or unaffiliated group championship teams, the other six will be at-large bids handed out to the six highest-rated teams in the rating that do not win their conference or unaffiliated group crowns.

William Penn will next be in action on December 1-2 at the Ebonite Warhawk Open in Addison, Ill.